Most of my week was spent in “civilised” mode. I could easily perform daily tasks where I’m nipping to the shops, running errands at Sandton City, charging at Benmore Shopping Centre or the slow-and-go commute through the Rivonia and Grayston drive bottleneck without ever awakening the iX’s full potential. But with a simple flex of my big toe, this SUV turns electricity into shockingly quick forward motion.

On the outside, the iX remains a stylish and upscale presence. For 2026, it receives some subtle cosmetic updates along with a boost in range and power. It still speaks the signature BMW design language, dominated by that large, vertical kidney grille. Inside, it’s an unsurprisingly premium product. The build quality is beyond reproach, offering the kind of quiet refinement that makes the chaos of the outside world simply melt away.

Interestingly, while most luxury car prices seem to be heading into the stratosphere, the 2026 lineup offers a bit of a reshuffle. While the flagship M70 sits at the top of the ladder with its 485 kW output, the xDrive60 I drive feels like the true sweet spot for the discerning driver who wants M-level performance without the full M-branding tax.

The driving experience is where the iX truly surprises. Passing slow-moving traffic on the highway is effortless; with 400 kW at your disposal, the car simply barrels towards at a scarcely believable pace. This sort of acceleration is a feat most EV shoppers see on spec sheets, but experiencing it in a vehicle that weighs nearly 2600 kg is a different story. It has the footprint of a large family SUV but the reflexes of something much lighter.

It is remarkably agile through corners, dishing out serious lateral forces that defy its dimensions. However, there are minor trade-offs for all that speed. The steering feels a bit light and heavily assisted, even in the most aggressive drive modes, though it does return to center naturally. Similarly, the brakes, while effective at bringing this massive machine to a halt, can feel a bit soft and lacking in immediate feedback. Switching over the one pedal driving makes things more bearable.

A word of advice: stay away from the 23-inch wheels. While they look spectacular pulling into a driveway, they come with a compromise. Small road imperfections feel sharp inside the cabin, detracting from the otherwise plush air suspension. The 21- or 22-inch options offer more sidewall, which significantly improves ride quality and, crucially, helps you reach that impressive 701 km maximum range.

However, a word of advice: stay away from the 23-inch wheels. While they look spectacular pulling into a driveway in Hyde Park, they come with a compromise. Small road imperfections feel sharp inside the cabin, detracting from the otherwise plush air suspension. The 21- or 22-inch options offer more sidewall, which significantly improves ride quality and, crucially, adds a few extra kilometres to your total range.

Inside, the iX takes full advantage of its generous exterior dimensions. This is a cabin where you can truly stretch out. Whether you’re in the driver’s seat or the back, the padding is generous and the bolsters are perfectly placed to keep you secure during those enthusiastic moments on the road. There is ample room for five adults to travel without feeling cramped, and enough cargo space to pack for a long weekend away without a second thought.

The insulation is equally impressive: Road and wind noise are kept to a whisper, creating a serene environment. The dashboard is dominated by a massive, landscape-style interface that is surprisingly easy to navigate, complemented by a crystal-like rotary dial and tactile steering wheel controls that keep things simple.

The focal point of the interior is the massive BMW Curved Display, which seems to float above the dashboard. It’s actually two high-resolution screens merged under a single piece of glass: a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen.

The instrument cluster is highly customisable. I spent far too long toggling between minimalist layouts and data-heavy views. The main infotainment runs the latest Operating System 8.5, featuring a “QuickSelect” menu that makes navigating settings as intuitive as using a smartphone. One of my favourite features is the Augmented Reality Navigation. When you’re approaching a tricky turn, the screen displays a live camera feed of the road ahead and overlays virtual arrows exactly where you need to go. It takes the guesswork out of navigating a busy intersection.

Charging the iX is a breeze. The 400-volt architecture might not be the absolute fastest on the market, but it’s remarkably consistent. At a local 110 kW DC fast charger, I was able to add roughly 100 km of range in about 20 minutes – just enough time to visit the restrooms and top-up on groceries for the evening. BMW claims a 10% to 80% charge in about 35 minutes, which is perfectly timed for a quick lunch meeting.

After charging, I spent even more time enjoying the iX on the open road driving to Muldersdrift and even in traffic. Overall, the iX’s driving experience was darn impressive. It was easy to drive at slow paces, but just as happy to drive at a rapid clip. It truly never ceased to impress me with its relentless application of speed.

It was also quick to navigate through just about every corner. Big or not, this thing could dish out some serious cornering G’s. There were, however, some minor issues that I noted alongside the rapid pace.

One minor “stationary” gripe: the interior door buttons. BMW has replaced traditional handles with electronic buttons. While they look sleek and modern, they feel a bit “anti-functional” compared to the intuitive pull handles we’ve used for a century. Even worse, when you’ve experienced the self opening doors of the 7 Series these feel a bit underwhelming because I kept waiting for them open wide.

If the door handles were a low point, the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System was the undisputed highlight. As someone who usually looks to upgrade factory speakers, I wouldn’t change a thing here. It features 30 speakers, including 4D audio shakers in the seats. Turn it up, and you aren’t just hearing the music; you’re feeling it. It maintains crystal-clear quality even at volumes that probably aren’t great for your eardrums. I found myself sitting in the garage long after arriving home just to finish a playlist.

The 2026 BMW iX xDrive50 performs in all the right places. It is spacious enough for five adults, the cabin is a sanctuary of silence, and the materials are top-tier. It doesn’t just move you; it transports you in a way that feels distinctly futuristic yet grounded in BMW’s performance heritage. While rivals like the Audi Q8 e-tron or the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV offer their own versions of luxury, the iX remains at the top of its class for its unique blend of “sleeper” speed and avant-garde refinement.

Priced from R2 689 000, it remains a premium but compelling choice for those looking to master the electric landscape without sacrificing the thrill of the drive.

In this article, we’ll explore what it’s like to use Mzansi’s first and only 200 KW EV charger found at the Mall of Africa for the first time. In case you missed it, Audi Southern Africa installed the charger.

First of all, it’s important to note that not all EVs are compatible with a 200 kW charger. This type of charger is typically only compatible with high-end models, such as Tesla’s Model S and Model X. Seeing that we don’t have those models locally, the charger is only compatible with the likes of the Audi e-tron GT, BMW ix, BMW i4 M50, Porsche Taycan and this Mercedes-Benz EQS we used for this test. So, if you own a different type of EV, you may need to find a different charging solution with a much lower output.

Assuming you do have a compatible EV, finding and using this 200 kW charger at MOA for the first time can be a bit intimidating. These chargers are significantly more powerful than most charging stations, so it’s important to be cautious and follow the instructions carefully.

The first thing you’ll need to do is to find the charging station. We drove quite a bit around Mall of Africa trying to locate this charger. The thing is, on the respective portals either from Gridcars and Rubicon, there are no clear instructions on which entry or parking level the charger can be found which is rather frustrating. After calling the Rubicon help desk, and another call back from them, we found the charger at Level 2D parking, which leads you straight to the Woolworths entrance. The charger is located on the far left upon entry. The charger itself is huge, and you can’t miss it. It is clad in black classic Audi branding. All of this, and the placement is rather distracting and odd in a dark corner. But we bet the placement makes sense from an engineering perspective. Once you’ve found the station, you’ll need to park your car in the designated charging spot and connect the charger to your vehicle, tap your recharge card and you’re good to go.

One of the benefits of a 200 kW charger is that it can provide a full charge in as little as 30 minutes, depending on your EV’s battery capacity. This means you’ll have plenty of time to grab a cup of coffee or stretch your legs while your car charges. Fortunately, I quickly had to dash to the Game where I needed to stock up on loadshedding essentials.

While waiting for your car to charge, you may notice that the charger makes a bit of noise. This is completely normal and is just the sound of the charger’s cooling fans working to keep the system cool. The charger also has a display that shows the charging progress, so you can keep an eye on how much longer your car needs to charge.

After about 34 minutes, my Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ was charged from 99km to 580 km. Which is impressive and rather satisfying given my experience with EVs in Mzansi. Once your car is fully charged, the charger will automatically stop supplying power to your vehicle. You can then unplug your car and be on your way.

Overall, using a 200 kW electric vehicle charger for the first time can be a bit daunting, but it’s a relatively straightforward process. With the ability to charge your car in just 30 minutes, a 200 kW charger is a game changer for those who want to minimize the amount of time spent charging their EVs.